Microsoft Excludes GPLv3 From Linspire Deal

rs232 writes to tell us that Microsoft is excluding any software licensed under the new GPLv3 from their recent patent protection deal with Linspire. "Microsoft has since been treating GPLv3 software as though it were radioactive. 'Microsoft isn't a party to the GPLv3 license and none of its actions are to be misinterpreted as accepting status as a contracting party of GPLv3 or assuming any legal obligations under such license,' the company said in a statement released shortly after GPLv3 was published on June 29. In addition to excluding GPLv3 software from the Linspire deal, Microsoft recently said that it wouldn't distribute any GPLv3 software under its SUSE Linux alliance with Novell, even as it maintains in public statements that the antilawsuit provisions in the license have no legal weight. "

Comments

Re:So what?

[Ohreally_factor]

Those are part of the kernel now? My goodness, technology changes quickly!

Re:The GPLv3 works

[bberens]

The real story is how Microsoft changed its patent covenant, after the deal with Linspire was already finalized. Is Microsoft free under that deal to alter the patent covenant however they want - making it useless? IANAL but I do know that you can't make a contract that is contradictory to the law. For example, if I make you sign a waiver before bungee jumping but then replace your regular bungee cord with chain linked pretzels you can still sue me (assuming you survive the fall) because I have illegally created an unsafe environment. If Suse, Linspire or another company breaks the law, Microsoft is within their rights to sue them. A contract stating "I won't sue you for patent infringement" is not necessarily the same as "You are licensed to utilize all of my patents at no charge."

Re:Doesn't this fork *.everything?

[DandyRandy]

>>Those who believe in F/OSS as a philosophy and accept GPLv3 will be branded pinkos and commies by "commercial friendly" open source, and die a slow death...?>>
Don't worry, you are already branded as pinkos and commies! What do you expect if you accept such a bulls**t as GPL3? Which kind of credibility you expect for Mr. Stallman in the eyes of any self-respecting businessman?

Re:An other example of GPL3 suckyness

[DandyRandy]

>>However GPLv3 was crafted to address a very real problem, and judging from Microsoft's reaction, it is doing a great job in that regard.>> Excellent operation, Professor! Your techniques are magnificent! Professor, your intelligence... that's top level! We are so-ooo-o impressed... only, could we ask you, why did your patient die??? /in memoriam, to FOSS etc, 'saved' by GPLv3 and pinkies/commies/.